What Automation Trainer does

Automation Trainer LLC is a Sacramento-based, privately held lab automation and liquid-handling quality-control vendor founded in 2009, operating with 11–50 employees and shipping globally through direct e-commerce, Thermo Fisher Scientific's catalog, and the Scientist.com marketplace. The company's flagship offering is the Good Liquid Handling (GLH) QC Kit system, a photometric verification workflow conformant to ISO 23783-2:2022, ISO/IWA 15:2015, ISO 8655-7:2022, and CLSI QMS23:2019, paired with GLHTracker Desktop software that supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliant QC data management. Beyond QC kits and consumables, Automation Trainer sells hardware including the MagBeadBot magnetic-bead purification workstation ($29,500), absorbance mini-readers (standard and on-deck variants), and an alternating crossflow filtration system for perfusion bioreactors scalable from 100mL to over 100L.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct e-commerce, enterprise sales via purchase orders, distributor relationships with Thermo Fisher and Scientist.com, and a recurring calendar of SLAS conference participation. Revenue is generated from one-time equipment sales ($7,000–$29,500), consumables and reagents ($154–$5,000+), quote-based preventative maintenance and calibration services, and a Liquid Handling Bootcamp plus broader lab automation, AI/ML, and data science training programs. In 2025 the company unveiled the GLH Smart Cart, a robotics-integrated liquid-handling enhancement co-developed with MSI and Telamon Robotics, signaling a move toward higher-value integrated systems. Customer logos span Merck, AbbVie, Thermo Fisher, PerkinElmer, Corning, PPD, Sutro Biopharma, and Loxo Oncology, with no disclosed institutional funding or revenue figures.

Name

Automation Trainer

Legal name

Automation Trainer LLC

Website

https://automationtrainer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Automation Trainer LLC is a Sacramento-based lab automation vendor that sells Good Liquid Handling QC kits, GLHTracker software, MagBeadBot purification workstations, bioreactor perfusion equipment, and training services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and contract research laboratories worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Automation Equipment

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lab Automation, Instrument Control & Workflow Orchestration Software (HLAGAJAG), Laboratory Automation, Sample Prep & Liquid Handling (IVD Lab Diagnostics) (HLAHAAAN), General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Liquid handling QC
• Laboratory automation
• Reagent kit manufacturing
• Lab consumables supply
• Automation training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. QC Kit and Verification Products: Sale of Good Liquid Handling (GLH) QC Kits, reagents, verification microplates, and reference plates for liquid handling quality control. Includes build-your-own QC Kit options allowing customers to customize components.
2. Laboratory Equipment: Sale of capital equipment including MagBeadBot magnetic bead purification workstations ($29,500), alternating crossflow filtration systems, microplate readers, and ancillary lab equipment.
3. Consumables and Labware: Pipette tips (automation and manual), microplates, deep-well plates, bottles, vials, and other consumable lab supplies. Compatible with major liquid handling platforms (Beckman, Hamilton, Tecan, Agilent, etc.).
4. Software Licensing: GLHTracker Desktop software licensing with 90-day warranty. Licensed for internal business use with non-exclusive, non-sublicensable terms. Five-year term with support options.
5. Training and Professional Services: Laboratory automation training, liquid handling bootcamps, calibration training, IQ/OQ/PQ qualification training, robotic programming training, AI/ML training, and data science training programs.
6. Service and Maintenance: Preventative maintenance, calibration services, programming and method development, and asset management services for liquid handling systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Automation Trainer manufactures and sells the Good Liquid Handling (GLH) QC Kit system — a photometric verification platform for automated liquid handling systems — along with proprietary GLHTracker Desktop software, the MagBeadBot magnetic bead purification workstation, bioreactor filtration equipment, robotic pipette tips, and microplates. The company also provides calibration, preventative maintenance, programming/method development, and a comprehensive curriculum of laboratory automation training services to life sciences, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology laboratories.

Product overview

Automation Trainer offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for laboratory automation and liquid handling quality control. The core offering centers on the GLH QC Kit system, which combines reagents, validation reference plates, and GLHTracker Desktop software for verifying and validating automated liquid handling systems. Supporting products include Absorbance Mini-Readers (standard and on-deck variants), various verification microplates, and universal validation reference plates. The company also provides robotic pipette tips compatible with major platforms (Beckman, Hamilton, Agilent, Tecan), the MagBeadBot molecular purification workstation, and alternating crossflow filtration equipment for bioreactor applications. Beyond products, Automation Trainer delivers training services including Liquid Handling Bootcamp, laboratory automation training, AI/ML training, and professional services such as preventative maintenance, calibration, programming, and asset management. The GLH Smart Cart, launched in 2025 with MSI and Telamon Robotics, represents the company's latest innovation for enhancing liquid handling precision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLH (Good Liquid Handling): Quality control, volume verification, and validation kits for liquid handling systems.
• GLHTracker
• MagBeadBot
• Liquid Handling Bootcamp

Products and services

• GLH QC Kit Comprehensive quality control kit for verifying and validating automated liquid handling systems, including proprietary reagents, validation reference plates, and software for volume verification and calibration. Conforms to ISO 23783-2:2022, ISO/IWA 15:2015, ISO 8655-7:2022, CLSI QMS23:2019, ISO 17025, cGMP, and cGLP.
• GLHTracker Desktop Desktop software application for tracking, analyzing, and reporting liquid handling quality control data. Licensed under five-year terms and designed for use in 21 CFR Part 11 compliant laboratories.
• GLH Smart Cart Smart cart system designed to enhance the efficiency and precision of automated liquid handling systems. Co-developed with MSI (Microsystems) and Telamon Robotics.
• Absorbance 96 Mini-Reader 96-well microplate absorbance reader used in conjunction with the GLH QC Kit for optical density measurement during quality control verification.
• Absorbance 96 On-Deck Mini-Reader On-deck absorbance microplate reader that integrates directly with automated liquid handling systems for real-time QC measurements.
• GLH QC Reagents Test dyes and reagents used for liquid handling verification and quality control tests with the GLH QC Kit system; one-year shelf life.
• Universal Validation Reference Plate (VRP) Proprietary calibration reference plate used as a standard for liquid handling system validation and verification; annual calibration recommended.
• Automation Pipette Tips Robotic pipette tips compatible with Beckman Biomek, Hamilton Microlab, Agilent Bravo, and Tecan systems; positioned as a reliable alternative supply during industry shortages.
• MagBeadBot Compact self-contained 96-well magnetic bead purification workstation for DNA/RNA isolation using a novel separation method. Processes up to 96 samples in 10 minutes; priced at $29,500 (roughly half of competitor alternatives).
• Alternating Crossflow Filtration Bioreactor System Diaphragm pump-based perfusion bioreactor system with Smart-Stop and Quick-Stop features, pressure monitoring, and Ethernet data output; scalable from 100mL to over 100L for research and production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 96 samples processed in 10 minutes using MagBeadBot
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MSI (Microsystems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the GLH Smart Cart unveiled at SLAS2025. MSI contributes to the development of cutting-edge liquid handling enhancement technology.
• Telamon RoboticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the GLH Smart Cart unveiled at SLAS2025. Telamon Robotics contributes robotics expertise for automated liquid handling precision improvements.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor distribution partner listing Automation Trainer products in their global catalog with Fisher Catalog Numbers, enabling wide distribution to Thermo Fisher's customer base.
• Biohit HealthcareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as valued partner in the Automation Trainer partner ecosystem.
• Scientist.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducts available through Scientist.com marketplace for online laboratory procurement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Agilent Technologies (Automation Solutions): Agilent's Bravo and V-Prep automated liquid handling platforms are named as compatible systems by Automation Trainer; Agilent also sells its own certified consumables, dilution series, and qualification services that can substitute for AT kits in biotech QC workflows.
• Tecan: Tecan is a leading manufacturer of MCA/FCA liquid handling workstations (referenced as a compatible platform by Automation Trainer) and offers its own QC/verification consumables and service contracts; competes as an OEM whose platforms drive demand for AT's QC kits but can substitute internally.
• Artel (Mesa Labs): Artel pioneered the MVS (Multi-Volume System) and PCS (Pipette Calibration System) for liquid handling verification and is the historical market leader in automated liquid handler QC; its photometric dye/ratiometric product directly competes head-to-head with Automation Trainer's GLH QC Kit in pharma, biotech, and clinical labs.
• Beckman Coulter Life Sciences: Beckman Coulter's Biomek series is the largest installed base of automated pipetting workstations for life sciences; Automation Trainer's kits and tips are explicitly built for Biomek, and Beckman's own consumables and service business competes for the same lab wallet share.
• Mettler Toledo (Rainin): Mettler Toledo's Rainin division sells pipettes and liquid handling QC consumables and offers calibration services that overlap Automation Trainer's preventative maintenance and calibration offerings; operates in the same regulated QC workflow niche.
• Hamilton Company: Hamilton manufactures Microlab STAR and Nimbus automated liquid handling robots — the very platforms Automation Trainer's QC kits verify — and also sells its own service and consumables; competes both upstream (instruments) and adjacent (consumables and service) to Automation Trainer.

Broad incumbents

• Corning Life Sciences: Corning is a major labware and plastic consumables manufacturer whose microplates, deep-well plates, and reservoirs compete directly with Automation Trainer's consumables line and is also listed as a partner for distributing select products.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Bio-Rad supplies life science research and clinical diagnostics products including QC reagents, microplate readers, and automation consumables; competes in the analytical instrument and QC consumable adjacencies to Automation Trainer with a much larger installed base.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher is Automation Trainer's core distribution partner and also the dominant global laboratory supplies and analytical instruments conglomerate; its catalog presence gives AT reach but Thermo Fisher's own Applied Biosystems and Pipette Service lines compete for the same QC budget.
• Eppendorf: Eppendorf is a broad life science lab equipment manufacturer offering manual pipettes, automated pipetting systems, consumables, and calibration services; overlaps with Automation Trainer's QC, consumables, and lab automation training businesses as a larger, more diversified incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AutomationTrain

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automation Trainer